Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 4% higher in Madison, WI. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$1,018
+6% in Arlington, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,219
+3% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$1,432
+2% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,766
+3% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$346,900
+26% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$76,983
+5% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$58,080
+13% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
31.8 yr
+1.8 yr in Arlington, TX
Homeownership
54.8%
46.6%
+8.2 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
59.2%
+26.1 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
26.7 min
19.4 min
+7.3 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
494.2
259.5
+47% in Arlington, TX
Property Crime
2,434.5
1,884.5
+23% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.4°F
46.5°F
+18.9°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
34.5 in
+5.1 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Madison, WI

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
19.7
+20% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$11.79
+61% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Madison, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Arlington, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Madison, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Madison, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WI)
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
7.65%
+7.7 pp in WI

Arlington vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Madison?
Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Madison?
Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).